Instant Grades for the Rams' Stunning Myles Garrett Trade
When the Los Angeles Rams took Ty Simpson with the No. 13 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, some detractors called L.A. out for looking too much towards the future instead of trying to capitalize on the present with reigning MVP Matthew Stafford.
Well, on Monday, general manager Les Snead and head coach Sean McVay quieted their critics by trading for the best defender in all of football, Myles Garrett, in a blockbuster trade with the Cleveland Browns.
How did both teams end up after one of the biggest trades in NFL history?
Here are my official grades.
Rams receive: Myles Garrett
Browns receive: Jared Verse, 1st Round Pick (2027), 2nd Round Pick (2028), 3rd Round Pick (2029)
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Los Angeles Rams: A+
They only gave up a single first-rounder for the man who just set the single-season record for sacks?
Really?
While I rate Jared Verse highly and believe he has what it takes to turn into one of the premier EDGE rushers in football, Garrett is the premier EDGE in football. Verse is excellent at getting to the quarterback and pressuring, but even in his sophomore season, he’s shown a lack of execution in bringing the signal-caller down.
The Rams were a play away from being heavy favorites in the Super Bowl last year, and now they’ve massively upgraded their secondary with Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson, along with securing the biggest game-breaker on the defensive line since Aaron Donald himself.
Matthew Stafford seems to be locked in for the next two years as the Rams’ starting QB, and the deal for Garrett gives them that window to try and win the Lombardi Trophy.
Cleveland Browns: A
Just because I think the Rams made an amazing trade doesn’t mean I can’t also give the Browns a big win.
Let’s be honest: the Browns aren’t winning anything the next two to three years, where Garrett will still be the scariest defender in football. He might break some more records, but does it really matter if the ceiling is getting blown out in the first round of the playoffs?
With this trade, they now have a second first-rounder in what is supposed to be one of the best QB classes of the 21st century, along with a former Defensive Rookie of the Year going into his third season, which could align better with their future than Garrett.
Verse is a player who does better when there is a chip on his shoulder (see his performances against Philadelphia), and he’s going to be walking into Browns headquarters with a boulder attached to him.
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This story was originally published June 1, 2026 at 1:29 PM.